The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Silver Star to Captain (Infantry), [then First Lieutenant] Kanemitsu Ito (ASN: 0-1336220), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company E, 2d Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, in action against the enemy in Korea. On 26 May 1951, near Soksa-ri, Korea, while Company E was occupying positions of defense for a vital road junction, it was attacked by an estimated 250 enemy troops delivering a hail of machine-gun, automatic-weapons, and small-arms fire. During this action Captain Ito, company commander, realizing that the best position from which he could direct fire was highly exposed to enemy bombardment, fearlessly made himself visible to the devastating barrage as he raced across open terrain to his new position. In the initial stages of the attack he was wounded in the leg, but ignoring the pain, continued to direct with lethal accuracy, the mortar and machine-gun fire, forcing the enemy to withdraw. Captain Ito’s gallantry and determination reflects the highest credit upon himself and the military service.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Kanemitsu Ito (ASN: 0-1336220), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company E, 2d Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy in Korea. On 25 April 1951, near Taejon-ni, Korea, Company E was attacked by a large enemy force and, as the ferocity of the battle increased, the outlying rifle platoons were forced to withdraw into tighter defensive perimeters. When word was received that the forward mortar observer was seriously wounded and lying in an exposed position, Lieutenant Ito, weapons platoon leader, unhesitatingly moved forward to the stricken soldier’s side, where he efficiently administered first aid. While carrying the wounded observer back to friendly lines, he was suddenly ambushed by two enemy soldiers. In the desperate struggle that followed, Lieutenant Ito shot one enemy soldier and bayoneted the other. Picking up the badly wounded infantryman, he evacuated him to safety. Upon discovering that friendly troops had been driven back to the command post area, Lieutenant Ito immediately resumed command of the mortar section and, through his aggressive leadership, the platoon repulsed repeated attacks and inflicted approximately 400 casualties on the enemy. Lieutenant Ito’s gallantry, courage, and exemplary devotion to duty reflects the highest credit upon himself and the military service.